$ _/ G% g: e5 M& _ & m' K& ~( K5 B/ N" [Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 f. X$ n/ L1 F, u, z F人在德国 社区8 q; @: F$ s/ I% F. E( A, i* M) ?
Leeches have been used in medicine for thousands of years. By attaching themselves to the body, and sucking blood from a patient, they were thought to bring health benefits. 2 {' e8 l- c. f0 ?+ D& T; _; g8 f1 V4 a; V1 X, o1 l# `3 t7 O' e
The idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. . V) p! q- \, I2 a . l! D8 K: }/ u4 p: PThat idea fell out of fashion during the 20th century, with the discovery of modern drugs. But today, as interest in traditional medicine grows, they are making a comeback - particularly in the former Soviet State of Georgia.$ g5 l% k$ O9 ]
9 h. v$ k: B- n" D& m7 j/ r& ~( ]: a人在德国 社区Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.